Tax and spend CONservatives

Reality Check:
Harper’s tax record

Today at a campaign stop in Brampton, Stephen Harper tried to distract from his record on taxes with the bogus claim that Liberals would raise taxes on everything from energy use to iPods.

Here’s the reality:

* Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Party do not support a carbon tax and will not introduce one.

* The Liberal Party has been unequivocal in its opposition to an iPod levy – We believe it is not sustainable in a world of changing technology, and is unpopular with consumers. Canadians are already using multipurpose media devices to listen to music, like Blackberries, iPhones, iPads and computer livestreaming, on which the levy would not apply. (Liberal press release, December 16, 2010)

The Conservatives, on the other hand, are the biggest-spending, biggest-borrowing government in Canadian history. Even as they raised spending by 18% in their first three years alone, the Conservatives also:

* raised the lowest personal income tax rate to 15.5% in 2006.

* announced a new 34% tax on income trusts in 2006.

* introduced a new tax on air travellers in 2010.

* hiked payroll taxes as of January 1, 2011.

* opened the door to future tax hikes – when asked whether or not the government would raise taxes down the road, Jim Flaherty said, “I would never presume to say ‘never’…” (January 26, 2011).

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Contact:

Liberal Party of Canada
613-783-8888
media@liberal.ca